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George Washington Baines

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The Reverend
George Washington Baines
File:Georgewashingtonbaines.jpg
3rd President of Baylor University
In office
1861–1863
Preceded byRufus Columbus Burleson
Succeeded byWilliam Carey Crane
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Carroll County
In office
November 7, 1842 – February 4, 1843
Personal details
Born(1809-12-29)December 29, 1809
Chowan County[1] or Perquimans County,[2] North Carolina, U.S.
DiedDecember 28, 1882(1882-12-28) (aged 72)
Salado, Texas, U.S.
Cause of deathMalaria
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
Melissa Ann Butler
​
​
(m. 1840; died 1865)​
Cynthia W. Williams
​
​
(m. 1865; died 1882)​
Children10; including Joseph
RelativesLyndon Baines Johnson (great-grandson)
Alma materUniversity of Alabama
Profession
  • Baptist preacher
  • journalist
  • politician
Known forCo-founding Baylor University
AwardsHonorary M.A. degree from Baylor University

George Washington Baines (December 29, 1809 – December 28, 1882) was an American politician, Baptist preacher, journalist, slaveowner, and educator. He was a co-founder and the third president of Baylor University, while the university was located in Independence, Texas. He was the great-grandfather of U.S. president Lyndon Baines Johnson.

Early life

Baines was born near the Atlantic Ocean in either Chowan County,[1] or Perquimans County, North Carolina,[2] on December 29, 1809, to Thomas Baines, a Baptist minister, and Mary (née McCoy) Baines. Baines was the eldest child and was raised in Georgia and Alabama where he spent most of his childhood. His family moved to a farm near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in 1818.[3] At the age of 20, Baines entered the University of Alabama. Due to poor health, he was forced out of school during his senior year.

Career

Baptist ministry beginnings

The G. W. Baines House

In 1832, he had a conversion experience[clarification needed] in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, under the T.J. Fisher ministry.[4] He was baptized in Salem Baptist Church at the age of 25, and in 1834 he became licensed to preach by the Philadelphia Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa County.[5] He was ordained by the Grant's Creek Baptist Church on August 7, 1836. His father was among the signers of his preaching license and certificate of ordination.

Political career in Arkansas

In 1837, he settled in Carroll County, Arkansas, moving in an effort to recuperate from his recurring dyspepsia.[3] He lived along Crooked Creek, about two miles southwest of present-day Harrison, Arkansas, the area today lies in Boone County. After settling in, he resumed his religious calling, helping to establish three churches, where he then preached. He also served as a missionary for the Baptist Home Mission Society of New York. In 1842, Baines was elected as a Democrat to the Arkansas House of Representatives, representing Carroll County from November 7, 1842, to February 4, 1843.[6][1]

Baines baptized more than 100 people in Arkansas, where he lived for seven years, before moving to Mount Lebanon, Louisiana, with his family in July 1844.[7]

Baylor University

Baines moved to Huntsville, Texas, with his family in 1850. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Baylor University from 1851 until 1859.[8] Baines became the first editor of the first Baptist newspaper in Texas, the Texas Baptist in 1855, while a member of the Board of Baylor. After Rufus Columbus Burleson departed the presidency of Baylor University for Waco University, Baines was appointed president by the Board, until they could find a suitable replacement for Burleson and before the start of the American Civil War.[8] On July 27, 1861, Baines was awarded with an honorary Master of Arts degree by Baylor University.[3] After his first year as president, the trustees found it difficult to find anyone to lead the financially-plagued university, and asked Baines to continue as president.[8] Health issues forced him to resign from the position in 1863.

Death

He devoted his life as a Christian leader; even with his chronic dyspepsia, he was a field agent of the Baptist State Convention for several years. After the death of his second wife in January 1882, he lived with his daughter Anna in Belton, Texas. G. W. Baines died on December 28, 1882, of malaria, a day before his 73rd birthday. At the time he was a pastor at Salado.[3]

Family

His son Joseph Wilson Baines was Secretary of State of Texas and a member of the Texas House of Representatives. [9] His great-grandson was U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c Polston, Mike (June 19, 2023). "George Washington Baines (1809-1882)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Ballard, D. La Pierre (March 4, 2006). "The Reverend George Washington Baines, Pioneer Texas Baptist Preacher, and President of Baylor University". US GenWeb Archives. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Summerlin, Travis L. (June 12, 2010). "Baines, George Washington, Sr". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  4. ^ Early, Joseph Everett (2004). A Texas Baptist History Sourcebook: A Companion to McBeth's Texas Baptists. University of North Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-57441-176-8.
  5. ^ Boone Co, AR. Turner Publishing Company. 1998. ISBN 978-1-56311-423-6.
  6. ^ 'Arkansas Biennial Report of the Secretary of State John W. Crockett, Tunnah & Pittard, 1903, Fourth Legislature Held November 7, 1842-February 4, 1843, pg. 123-124
  7. ^ "Baines Family Collection, Inclusive: 1807-1912, undated; Bulk: 1855-1882; 1896-1899". legacy.lib.utexas.edu. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d "George Washington Baines, Baylor President, 1861-1863". Baylor University. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  9. ^ "Joseph Wilson Baines". Texas Legislators: Past & Present. Texas Legislative Reference Library.

Further reading

  • George Washington Baines, library of University of Baylor, Texas. 1855.
  • George Washington Baines, Baylor University, 1809 - 1881. Department of History.
  • The Family of Thomas Baines, George Washington Baines Sir, 1890. Bible study, Baptist Church Texas.
  • The Personal Correspondence of Sam Houston: 1848-1852 by Sam Houston
Academic offices
Preceded by President of Baylor University
1861–1863 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Arkansas House of Representatives
Preceded by
Unknown
 Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Carroll County
(Crooked Creek)
1842—1843 		Succeeded by
Unknown
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